Pollinator Meadows

Pollinator Meadows are expansive areas full of a diversity of native plants, much like the original prairie that covered the Great Plains. Pollinator meadows are the most beneficial choice for supporting as many pollinators as possible, so if you have the time and space to create a pollinator meadow, go for it! The easiest way to achieve this might be to plant pocket gardens side by side, eventually creating a meadow that takes up your full yard.

For more guidance on installing your pollinator meadow project, check out the Resilient Yards Online Learning Series.

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Select your planting location

First, consider where you’ll be planting. The first and most important step is to assess your yard. What areas of your yard can be used to install a project?  How large or small do you want your project to be? Notice where trees and existing landscaping are. Examine the type of soil you have. These are all a part of a site assessment.

It can also be a valuable exercise to step back and think about where water goes once it leaves your property. Where is the nearest storm drain? Do you know what body of water this storm drain leads to? The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has a useful Watershed Information tool for Minnesotans to find their watershed. You can print a view of your property from your county’s GIS map and draw your site map over it like the image shown to the right.

Choose a strategy

Pollinator meadows are a big project to tackle and how you approach it will depend on what kind of tools or machinery you have access to. Pollinator meadows can be started from seed, all at once. Or, you may find it more approachable to work on your meadow bit-by-bit by starting a smaller garden and then converting more turf to native plants in subsequent spring and fall seasons.

  • Bit-by-Bit (plugs): Containerized plants-not seeds- are the best choice for new gardeners and smaller gardens. They allow more control over layout and design of your garden, mature and bloom faster and have a higher survival rate. 
  • All at once (seeds): It can take much longer to establish native plants from seeds, and it can be difficult for new gardeners to distinguish weedy plants from desired species. However, seed mixes can be a cost efficient way to introduce diversity in larger pollinator plantings.
  • Pollinator Meadow